The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 714 Starting the Training (2)

Day Two…

"Have you had breakfast?" Nolan inquired.

Evalyn gave a nod. "Yes."

"Good," Nolan offered a slight smile. "In that case, run around the yard. You don't have to reach a hundred—ten laps will be enough. If you can manage that, we'll move on to the next stage."

"I understand."

Without further delay, Evalyn turned and began her run. The morning air was sharp and chilling.

She was clad in snug training attire, her arms bare while only her chest and upper midsection were covered.

Though visibly shivering from the cold, she offered no complaints. She understood the futility of it. Moreover, she had faith in Nolan.

Perhaps, this rigorous training would forge her into someone far more formidable than she had ever been.

From a distance, Nolan observed her with a calm demeanor.

"Ten laps… That should be achievable for her," he murmured to himself.

The grounds of the Lionheart family were expansive and vast. It took more than a minute to complete just one circuit.

With Evalyn's previous physical capabilities, such a task would have been trivial. However, that was no longer the case. She was now merely a fragile woman—no stronger than an ordinary individual.

"Master, isn't this training a bit too demanding?" Eira inquired hesitantly from behind him.

Nolan turned to face her.

"Demanding? You believe running around this courtyard is demanding?"

Eira glanced at the spacious courtyard and subsequently shook her head.

"No, it doesn't appear difficult. But…"

Her gaze drifted towards Evalyn, who was already showing signs of extreme fatigue.

"Sister Evalyn seems so miserable," she commented with a sympathetic tone.

Nolan smiled and gently placed a hand on her head, patting it.

"This is how she will grow stronger."

Eira pouted but remained silent. After all, she placed her trust in Nolan.

Fifteen minutes elapsed…

"Whew! I'm utterly exhausted! My legs feel as though they're about to detach!"

Evalyn lay spread out on the ground, akin to a lifeless fish, panting heavily as she gazed blankly at the sky.

She could not recall the last time she had experienced such profound exhaustion—perhaps it was during her childhood.

One thing was certain: her body was so depleted that movement of her limbs was now impossible.

"This is merely the beginning. More exercises await," Nolan stated with a playful tone.

He extended his hand towards Evalyn, and she reluctantly took it.

The instant she was helped to her feet, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She gently rubbed her temples, a frown creasing her brow.

"My head feels so heavy."

"That is due to your body's shock. It is temporary. You will return to normal shortly."

As Nolan finished speaking, Evalyn felt her vision sharpen once more.

"You are correct," she whispered, a sigh of relief escaping her lips.

"Very well, the next training focuses on reflexes," Nolan continued nonchalantly. "Your reflexes are abysmal—at least, that was the conclusion I reached following yesterday's assessment."

In truth, this was not the case. Evalyn's reflexes were superb, perhaps even exceptional. However, in Nolan's estimation, there remained scope for enhancement.

"Reflexes, you say?" Evalyn mumbled, feeling a mix of vexation and resignation.

Frankly, this was the first instance where someone had offered such candid criticism.

Her father, her tutors, and all her kin had consistently lauded her abilities. Only Nolan dared to highlight her shortcomings.

But what recourse did she have?

The reality was, she had been defeated by him during yesterday's sparring match, leaving her with no alternative but to accept his verdict.

"How will you train me?" Evalyn inquired.

"It's simple. I will attack, and you shall evade. How does that sound?" Nolan grinned.

Yet, for reasons unknown, his smile sent an unsettling chill down Evalyn's spine.

"It's just my imagination… isn't it?"

She dismissed the thought and gave a nod of assent.

"Then let us commence."

Nolan and Evalyn positioned themselves a mere fifty centimeters apart.

Abruptly, Nolan drew back his fist and launched it towards her face.

His movement was so swift that Evalyn lacked the mere fraction of a second needed to react.

The fist halted just centimeters from her nose. The force of the near-miss generated a palpable gust of air against her skin.

"You are slow," Nolan remarked with indifference.

Evalyn's heart thundered in her chest. It felt as though an unseen force had rendered her immobile, paralyzing her ability to move.

"Again! I wasn't prepared!" Evalyn gritted her teeth, her voice strained.

Nolan inclined his head. He clenched his left fist, and Evalyn instantly tensed, ready to evade.

However, contrary to her expectation of a head-on strike, the punch suddenly swished past her left side.

Evalyn stood frozen, utterly incapable of responding.

The fist stopped mere centimeters from her face.

"You are slow," Nolan repeated, his tone tinged with an almost palpable exasperation.

"Y-You…" Evalyn found herself speechless.

For the first time, she was overcome with self-loathing.

"Your focus on predictable patterns is your error," Nolan stated with composure. "Observe the trajectory of my movements and anticipate my next move. Do not presume my attacks will only come from the front."

Evalyn, typically sharp and aware, found her perception clouded by sheer frustration.

"I understand now." Evalyn gave a nod, drawing in a steadying breath. "Let's go again!"

Nolan acknowledged her with a nod, and their rigorous reflex training resumed for a continuous four hours.

"Hah… Hah… Hah…" Evalyn's breaths came in ragged, heavy gasps.

"Your progress is passable, but you are still significantly short of ideal," Nolan remarked, a subtle hint of satisfaction coloring his tone.

Evalyn's physical foundation was, in truth, quite robust. Yet, that was the extent of it.

All this time, she had been overly dependent on the power source within her body, leading to a critical deficiency in her raw physical capabilities.

"That is sufficient for today. Pushing further risks bodily harm. We shall continue tomorrow," Nolan said gently.

He then turned, departing with Eira by his side.

Evalyn watched their departure, her heart filled with conflicting emotions. She was relieved to have realized Nolan had been concealing his true abilities.

However, a peculiar and unfamiliar sentiment arose within her, as if the Nolan she had known had transformed into an entirely different person.

…

"So, you've journeyed to the capital to witness the confrontation between the Lionheart and Asbourne families?"

Within her office, Shion regarded Nolan, who was seated beside her, with evident curiosity.

"That is correct." Nolan nodded. He crossed his legs, took a sip of tea, and elaborated, "Elina was unable to attend due to her demanding schedule. The noble families from surrounding territories have expressed interest in Virella's timber sector. Yet, I suspect these overtures are merely attempts at flattery."

His expression conveyed a blend of disdain and weary resignation. It was undeniable that the timber industry within the eastern region remained relatively nascent.

Consequently, the search for reliable suppliers presented considerable challenges. However, this did not imply a complete absence of options. Established merchants and noble houses engaged in the timber trade already possessed their own networks of suppliers.

Their overtures to establish a partnership with Elina were clearly a strategic maneuver, aimed at gaining proximity to her and securing potential future advantages.

After all, the prevailing sentiment among them was a firm conviction that Elina was destined to become the future empress.

"Pfft!" Shion let out a soft chuckle. "Isn't that a positive development? With such a high demand, Virella's economy is bound to flourish rapidly."

Nolan nodded, gently stroking Eira, who lay on the sofa with her head nestled in his lap.

"That is indeed true," Nolan concurred.

As their conversation flowed, Luna's voice suddenly resonated from outside the office.

"Sister Shion, an important guest has arrived."